In particular, Ridley’s character Rey shines as a female protagonist. The acting in The Force Awakens is good, but the writing and character development is even better. Whether it’s the ominous hue or a red lightsaber, the hopeful tint of blue, or something completely different, the interplay of light and dark is masterful. Also worth noticing is the way light disrupts shadows. It is a tangible symbol that enhances the war between the “Light Side” and “Dark Side.” Light reflects radiantly from the cheeks of heroes like Rey and Finn, but hardly reflects from the faces of Kylo Ren or his comrades. The light or lack of light in any given scene is more than just a sets the mood. On the set, The Force Awakens does a terrific job with lighting. Perhaps a spinoff prequel showing the adventures of Han and Chewie is in order? It is certainly believable considering Solo’s brashness, but the circumstances seem too convenient for the narrative. One example is a scene attempting to reveal Han Solo’s (Harrison Ford) recent past as a fugitive from sinister loan sharks. A couple other scenes feel forced, as if they’re only there to avoid a glaring plot hole. Regardless, the film does a decent job of showing his humanity by revealing some of his physical and emotional weaknesses.
Sadly this is the case for our villain, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). As a result some characters feel underdeveloped. Typically in post-production the movie has to trim its many hours of footage to a concise story. The film suffers from a common plague in epics, however.
The trademark of this type of movie is accumulating action while the character-driven story progresses in an upward linear fashion, meaning there is no plot-halting plateau. The Force Awakens also fits the bill of a good action flick produced in the post- Casino Royale era, which was a turning point in the history of quality action films. This time it’s the First Order versus the Resistance. There is plenty of appeal to nostalgia, including endearing aliens, thrilling fight sequences, and an epic clash of two factions. He had to bring something new to the Star Wars saga while honoring the other films in the series. The best part of the movie is watching these two discover themselves as the narrative unfolds.ĭirector J.J. Finn is a Stormtrooper who has a Joycean epiphany and a subsequent change in allegiances that is both compelling and winsome. Rey’s past is a mystery, but she learns she must leave it behind to truly find herself. As intergalactic fate would have it, she finds herself traversing the Star Wars universe trying to help her new friend Finn get an important droid to the Resistance movement. Rey is a self-reliant scavenger from the planet of Jakka. The film serves as a delightful coming-of-age piece for two of the main characters, Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega).
The Force Awakens at once accomplishes what other films in the genre labor to achieve – an emotional connection to a distant universe.
The movie engrosses you instantly-a gargantuan ship slogging through space overhead, a perplexing desert planet that is somehow inviting, and characters that are personable as they remove their masks-whether figuratively or literally. Three minutes into Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I kept thinking to myself– this is what science fiction should be.